Perspectives on Religion

Malinowski names two situations where religion provides psychological functions for an individual such as helping them with cope with emotional stress. Name them.

Wehn the outcome is important but unpredictable. E.G Ocean fishing by small tribes is only used after a series of rituals and blessings, this makes people feel as though they have control over a difficult situation.

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Malinowski names two situations where religion provides psychological functions for an individual such as helping them with cope with emotional stress. Name them.

At times of life crises. For example funeral rites encourage solidarity in a difficult time for many people in order to minimise disruption.

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Suggest a society where religion may have caused conflict between communities?

Conflicts within Islamic states when there was a large increase in Jewish Settler populations. E.G Gaza.

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What are the two functions that relgion serves according to Parsons?

It creates and legitamises society's central values and is the primary source of meaning.

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What is meant by the primary source of meaning?

It gives us the foundations of an answer regarding existential questions and questions such as why do the good suffer?

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How did Bellah find civil religion differed in American society?

He found that the religion had become a part of the society in that the values were found sacred even by non-supporters of the original religion. Essentially integrating society and relgigion together.

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What is meant by Functional Alternatives?

There are secular sources of cohesion within society replacing many functions of religion. An example being Nazi Germany where people came together despite their being no practiced state religion.

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What is a problem with the idea of functional alternatives?

It fails to differentiate between what makes religions distinct from other aspects of society.

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Evaluate functionalist approaches.

Functionalism highlights the positive functions of relgion but fails to acknowledge negatie functions such as oppression.

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Evaluate functionalist approaches.

It ignores religion as a source of division and conflict, especially in pluralist countries such as Northern Ireland.